This is an interesting communication between myself and Na, the therapist at Thai Ancient Massage.

During “feet cleansing” :

Na: Sir… where you coming sir?

Me: Kuala Lumpur

Na: You look like Thai people……. Sir..

Me: Yes.. my father family is from Thai

Na: Oh…50… 50 Thai I can see see your eyes sir. You look Thai…half-half

Me: Ok… I am 50 50..or half-half

(Lots and lots to explain about the half-half!!)

I was screaming during the massage session:

Na: Pain…pain sir?

Me: Yes… it’s a bit hurt… do it slowly

Na: Pain is not good sir.. must massage at the place sir, when no pain that mean good.. if pain that mean no good sir..do you under-se-tand sir?

Me: Yes… I understand..

Na: you walk.. walk so many sir?

Me: Yes… I walk a lot

Na: Your leg walk walk a lot sir. Need to massage…

Me: Ok.. that’s why I am here

Na: After this… you can catwalk.. catwalk sir.. no pain

(Ford or Elite, sign me in!)

During back massage:

Na: Sir..you so se-lim sir… very good sir

Me: Oh.. thank you:

Na: Old, old lady like me not se-lim sir. You se-lim..

Me: You are not that fat.

Na: Your body very beau-ti-fool sir…not fat..

(There you go Elle McPherson…)

Jari siapakah yang lentik dan dipuji oleh Na ittewww?

During hand massage :

Na: sir… your hand soft.. like lady sir

Me: Hahhaha.. thank you.

Na: My finger not like you. Everyday massage..massage..

Me: No… you have a beautiful fingers…

Na: But you very beau-ti-fool.. sir.. finger-finger beau-ti-fool. Like Lady finger

(Is it a vegetable?)

Feeling refreshed, light and like I was born yesterday, I was about to exit from Thai Ancient Massage with Na at the entrance:-

Na: Thank you sir…need massage come here sir…..

Me: Ok.. thank you to you Na..

Na: After this.. you can catwalk sir.. kapkumkap…

(yes.. I can catwalk.. I mean walk with my new spirit after the massage!)

A++ for the hospitality!!!

Thai Ancient Thai is located at Jalan Tong Shin. If you are from Lot 10, walk walk catwalk until the end of Jalan Alor and turn right. If you don’t see see, Call 603-2145-1139. Open daily from 10am to 3am. Don’t forget to massage..massage ya.. un-der-se-tand?………

This is my first time and I like it. This will be probably a beginning of my new interest. Artistic Dance!

I was invited by The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur to watch We’re Gonna Go Dancing. If you think it is like a typical dance you watch on MTV, you’re wrong. This is where the dancers screaming, freaky movements, awkward moves and if you don’t really feel it, you probably think “what the heck are they doing?”

But, I am kinda like it! Even at first I also thinking “kena rasuk dengan hantu raya ke diaorang ni” but it is all changes when I shift my mind to pure entertainment to abstract, organic dance! I am soooo arty rite now!

There are four pieces of performances. The first performance is an award winning Debutante by Maki Morishita. She is She performs solo and at one phase her just screaming and started to come toward me… I was like so terrified (dok fikir kenapalah dia dok berlari macam orang meroyan kat aku) because I knew nothing about this type of dance and to participate is the last thing that I would like to do. Luckily, she only trying to get a pair of slipper (yes… that white hotel slippers) that was placed behind the seat next to mine that eventually become one of her props. Who can think slippers can be a prop? 

After her performance, she sat behind me. Very lovely lady, no screaming, just normal lady. During the intermission (normal term: break), I chat with her and she told me in simple English, it is about her expression because she is embarrassed to express emotion verbally. The dance is about self expression. That explain the screaming and slippers…

She is the first Japanese choreographer to collaborate with Finnish dance project.

Standing ovation to Maki Morishita.

The second pieces is a spectacular performance by Aswara students choreograph by very famous Japanese dancer Ikuyo Kuroda. She is a founder of Batik that presented multiple award winning performances. A Japanese used malay term for her dancer group….interestung!

Too bad.. when I started to snap, a Japanese lady came to me and said NO PHOTO!..

I was breathless to by the performance. Even I can’t really understand but it was like so amazing! The kids certainly has  gigantic talent and energy! Yes… they screaming while dancing and I also want to scream because it is so damn fabulous! FYI, this is a new piece created during a 7 day workshop with Aswara dancers and as an adaptation of Last Pie. 7 days and it is like perfect.. salute!!!!!!!

Standing ovation to the Aswara  and Ikuyo Kuroda.

The third is a solo dance by Masanori Hoshika called Returnee. Props include Godzilla toy, canned drinks and sneakers!

The last pieces is a P’Lush Headache. It is all female dancers, Shuko Tamauchi, Yuki Sawada and Yui Yoshizawa. Lots and lots of cabbage as props, they keep throwing the cabbage and the girls put the cabbages into their white tank top. Cabbages was harassed and harm during the process!

I am in ‘I want to learn culture in fun way’ outfit. Zara stripes top, Levi hipster jeans, Guess ‘Cairo’ Messenger, Diesel shoes

As part of my cultural appreciation program which I just created this year, I went to visit National Museum yesterday – alone. This is part of my strategy for not wasting too much, well… kind like not too much money. The feeling is different from the feeling of visiting malls. No pressure, I just relax because at the end of the day I know I get knowledge (yes…..erm kind of!)

It’s been like 20 years since my last visit this museum (I am not old!) and I am so surprised it changed like 400%. The space seems bigger and the artifact/exhibit kind like double in quantity. I am trying to catch my breath to visit all the galleries and other museum. FYI in the compound they have about 3 museum- national, Malay World and Orang Asli (indigenous).Plus the café and shop and flea markets- It’s the most exciting part, tell you later!

If you think this is an old museum with old boring thing, well you are only half correct. Most of the exhibits are old but not really boring if you know how to appreciate it- like I did, YES. To add to the excitement, the facilities is modern and interactive.

Here some of the snaps from the CULTURAL APPRECIATION @ MUSEUM.

The main entrance to the compound

Hundred of kris

They perform the ritual to one the kris in order to refresh the kris spirit. I can smell the burn incense everywhere!

These are the real skulls from Borneo section

Ice Aged movie at Pre Historic Weapons section, r u kidding me?

Spacious gallery

A very old, cool vest. I love red. Vest with Quran verses written all over it. Believe to protect those who in it during war battle.

These existed thousand years before Tods and Chanel two toned flat!

One of the 'forts' in the gallery

Faces of malays from the Malay Archipelago at Malay World Museum

Something waiting for me at Orang Asli (Indigenous) Etnologi museum

Move over Demi and Britney, this should grace the cover of every mags- A topless mom!

Malay house

Now the best part. Apart from my cultural appreciation, I also did a session called cultural shopping. It is a lot of things to buy here. My first impression is museum is only to see skulls and rocks but the best thing is we not only see but we can buy it! There are like a row of shops and a Museum Shop! If you are looking something to put in your living room, you can buy like unique and exotic items here. Just take your time to enjoy the galleries, eat something at the café and shop, just like me.

Row of shops selling everything from traditional umbrella to kris!

In the end, I bought 17 documentaries:-

i. Muslim Shrines in South Africa

ii. Malay Sea Seafarers

iii. Pandak Mat

iv. Minangkabau Malay

v. Malaysia the Missing Puzzle

vi. Malay Custom (that include circumcise- I’ve experienced it, so I know how it feels)

vii. Aborigines Wood Carving

viii. Chinese Nine Kings Celebration

ix. Sabah Bisaya Community

x. Perak River Heritage (my hometown-can’t wait to watch it)

xi. Kampung Air Labuan Community

xii. Randai

xiii. The Art and Custom of Hut Tribe Circumcision (I’ve been circumcise, but not under this custom)

xiv. Sarawak Malay Wedding Custom

xv. Indochina Malay Champa Community

xvi. Thaipusam

xvii. Batik

Also two books

i. A stroll through Borneo by James Barclay

ii. Expedition to Borneo by David Macdonald

Wow… I felt so in culture! The point when I am at the cashier, I can feel the proud aura, it’s like everyone at the counter looking at me with amazement. I bet they will think me as a very cultured young guy who really interested in his own history and custom. I knew it. BTW, I spend like almost RM400 (about USD100).

P/s: I really hope they museum staff could smile and greet the visitors. This is one of the most visited for foreign tourists. PLEASE show the BEAUTIFUL MALAYSIAN CULTURE.

Final Pic- the beautiful Malay Wedding Dais ... MAGNIFIQUE!

Very final pic- my reflection (with Rayban)